San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2020 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-11-15, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 27–13 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

N. Mullens (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +1.97 total EPA, and -5.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Kamara (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (4:48) 6-M.Wishnowsky punts 43 yards to NO 44, Center-46-T.Pepper. 11-D.Harris MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by SF-36-M.Harris at NO 49.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.26 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Reed · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.68 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Harris · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.17 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
4. 4 N. Mullens · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +1.97 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play
5. 5 E. Sanders · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.59 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Dwelley · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Walter · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.03 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
8. 8 R. James · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +0.96 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• San Francisco 49ers — B. Aiyuk (N. Mullens pass) (Q1 52:47)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q2 36:52)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (D. Brees pass) (Q2 31:19)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q4 7:33)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 45:00)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q2 43:53)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 12:18)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q4 5:59)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q1 52:47) — (7:47) 4-N.Mullens pass short right to 11-B.Aiyuk for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 3; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 52:43) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-6-M.Wishnowsky..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 14 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 9-R.Gould 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-6-M.Wishnowsky.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 31 (Q2 43:53) — (13:53) 3-W.Lutz 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) 41-A.Kamara left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 36:48) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 3 (Q2 31:19); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 31:15) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 5 (Q4 12:18) — (12:18) 3-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q4 7:33) — (7:33) 74-J.Hurst reported in as eligible. 41-A.Kamara left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q4 7:29) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 22 (Q4 5:59) — (5:59) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-6-M.Wishnowsky..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 49:48) — (4:48) 6-M.Wishnowsky punts 43 yards to NO 44, Center-46-T.Pepper. 11-D.Harris MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by SF-36-M.Harris at NO 49. [WPA +11.9% · EPA +5.42]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 39:30) — (9:30) 6-T.Morstead punts 37 yards to SF 22, Center-49-Z.Wood. 40-K.Webster MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by NO-12-M.Callaway at SF 21. 12-M.Callaway to SF 21 for no gain (40-K.Webster). [WPA +11.7% · EPA +4.68]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 55:21) — (10:21) (Shotgun) 4-N.Mullens pass short left to 84-K.Bourne to NO 41 for 4 yards (20-J.Jenkins, 22-C.Gardner-Johnson). PENALTY on NO-22-C.Gardner-Johnson, Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact, 15 ya [WPA +10.1% · EPA +2.14]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) 41-A.Kamara left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +1.42]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 44:56) — 6-M.Wishnowsky kicks 65 yards from SF 35 to NO 0. 11-D.Harris to SF 25 for 75 yards (43-J.Mayden). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +2.80]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 49:48) — (4:48) 6-M.Wishnowsky punts 43 yards to NO 44, Center-46-T.Pepper. 11-D.Harris MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by SF-36-M.Harris at NO 49. [WPA +11.9% · EPA +5.42]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 9:09) — (9:09) 6-T.Morstead punts 48 yards to SF 21, Center-49-Z.Wood. 13-R.James MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by NO-12-M.Callaway at SF 22. [WPA +4.4% · EPA +5.31]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 39:30) — (9:30) 6-T.Morstead punts 37 yards to SF 22, Center-49-Z.Wood. 40-K.Webster MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by NO-12-M.Callaway at SF 21. 12-M.Callaway to SF 21 for no gain (40-K.Webster). [WPA +11.7% · EPA +4.68]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 2:31) — (2:31) (Shotgun) 4-N.Mullens pass deep left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 21-P.Robinson at NO 0. Touchback. [WPA -1.1% · EPA -4.63]

Quarterback report card

N.Mullens led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• N.Mullens (San Francisco 49ers) · 44 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · -5.4% CPOE · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.97 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 14 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · -12.3% CPOE · +0.07 EPA/play · +0.95 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

New Orleans Saints held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.07 vs -0.12), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +4.80 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 11 drives, -10.14 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New Orleans Saints leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Kamara (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• N. Mullens (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Brees (NO) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 52:47 · NO 4 · Score 6-0
   (7:47) 4-N.Mullens pass short right to 11-B.Aiyuk for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 3
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 52:43 · NO 15 · Score 7-0
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-6-M.Wishnowsky.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · NO 14 · Score 10-0
   (15:00) 9-R.Gould 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-6-M.Wishnowsky.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 43:53 · SF 31 · Score 10-3
   (13:53) 3-W.Lutz 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 36:52 · SF 2 · Score 10-9
   (6:52) 41-A.Kamara left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 36:48 · SF 15 · Score 10-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:19 · SF 3 · Score 10-16
   (1:19) 9-D.Brees to SF 4 for -1 yards. FUMBLES, and recovers at SF 6. 9-D.Brees pass short right to 41-A.Kamara for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 3
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:15 · SF 15 · Score 10-17
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 12:18 · SF 5 · Score 10-20
   (12:18) 3-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 7:33 · SF 1 · Score 10-26
    (7:33) 74-J.Hurst reported in as eligible. 41-A.Kamara left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 7:29 · SF 15 · Score 10-27
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
12. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 5:59 · NO 22 · Score 13-27
    (5:59) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-6-M.Wishnowsky.